Capsule filling machine



March 10, 1953 A. w. KATH CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filgd June a, 1949 mu 2 D A n m w A A. w. KATH CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE March 10, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 4 I ALF QED VV- KATH BY Filed June 8, 1949' FlG ATTORNEY.

Filed June 8, 1949 March 10, 1953 A. w, K ATH 2,

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE V 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. AL. FRED W. KATH ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 10, 1953 CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Alfred W. Kath, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,889

14 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for filling capsules and more particularly to an automatic machine for filling capsules of the telescoping, separable, cap and body type.

A general object of the invention is to provide in a machine of this character a capsule filling mechanism that is free of intermittent movements and that is operable continuously, progressively and smoothly to perform upon multiple groups of capsules all of the required operations of separation, filling, rejoining, and ejection in a facile, expeditious, mass-production manner.

Another object of the invention lies in the simplification in the design, construction and operation of such a machine.

A further object is to provide in a continuously operable capsule filling machine a construction and arrangement which insures against any possibility of shearing capsule parts during the separating operation and which generally tends to eliminate the possibility of the parts becoming jammed in any of the operations.

A still further object is to provide in a machine of this character a construction and mode of operation which aifords ample opportunity for visual inspection of the separated cap and body parts and replacement of any defective parts preparatory to their being presented to the filling station.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement and mode of operation productive of a more positive capsule cap and body separating action at the decapping station.

With these and other incidental objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the capsule filling machine,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the machine as shown in Fig. l, certain parts being broken away, certain other parts being omitted, and still other parts being shown in cross-section for clearness,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with certain of the superstructure omitted and certain parts being broken away for clearness,

Fig. 4 is a detailed side elevation taken substantially along the line l-G of Fig. 3 and showing the capsule uprighting and discharge station,

Fig. 5 is a detailed plan view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the capsule cap and body receiving carriers with respect to a vacuum head element of the capsule discharge station,

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are sectional elevations of the various elements shown in Fig. 5 and particularly illustrate the improved capsule part (cap and body) separating operation,

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are sectional elevations taken along the lines 9-9, Hll0, and lll| of Fig. 3 and show the capsule filling, closing and ejecting'stations, respectively, and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic View of themachine drive.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine includes a base l4 supporting an upright frame I5 within the four corners of which are housed substantially all of the driving and operating mechanisms of the machine. A carrier disk I 6 (see also Fig. 2) is mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane about a centrally located, vertically disposed, stationary shaft bearing [1. Disk [6 is provided with a series of concentric rows of body receiving apertures [8 (Figs. 3 and 6) which form radially disposed rows with respect to the axis of rotation of the disk.

Mounted above disk I6 is a series of generally sector-shaped plates l9 each of which has a series of cap-receiving apertures 20 arranged in axial alignment with the corresponding bodyreceiving apertures [8. As clearly shown in Fig. 6, apertures 20 are shouldered as at 2i to provide an arresting stop or seat for the lower ends of the capsule caps. Each sector plate [9 is fixed upon the upper ends of a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically disposed rods 22 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). Rods 22 are slidably mounted for guided, vertical movement adjacent their lower ends in bushings 23 fixed in a ring gear 24. Ring gear 24 is keyed as at 25 to a depending sleeve 26, the latter being formed integrally with disk l6 and mounted for rotation about shaft l1. Adjacent their upper ends, rods 22 extend through bushings 21 aflixed in disk It. Intermediate their upper and lower ends, each pair of rods is connected together by and has aflixed thereto cam followers 28. Each follower 28 is provided with a horizontally disposed, inwardly projecting roller 29 arranged to ride in a cam track 32 provided in a cylindrical drum cam 33 which is maintained stationary within machine frame I5 in a manner later to be described.

By this construction and arrangement, each pair of rods 22 and its associated sector plate l9 are free to be raised or lowered independently by its corresponding roller 29 riding in cam track 32. Also it will be observed that the assembly of rods 22, sleeve 25, disk l5 and ring gear 24 forms a unitary rotating structure including these parts and the sector plates l9 carried by therodsfi Eachpair: of rods 22' has mounted for free sliding movement thereon above its afiixed cam follower 28, an additional cam follower 35 pro vided with a horizontally disposed, inwardly projecting roller 35 arranged to ride inacam'tracki 36 provided in drum cam 33..abo.ve track 32.

Each follower 35 is providedwith: a horizonsv tally disposed, generally sector-shaped, outwardly projecting extension 3? in which is mounted a series of upwardly projecting.:.pusli pins 38, there being one push pin for eachlpairr. of companion cap and body receiving "apertures 2fl, l8,in each sector plate It and its corresponding segment-of disk 56: Each; pin 38'is of'such diameten'as*to'enter-with sliding clearance within the cap:and body receiving'apertures; It is noted that "the-guided, vertical, reciprocatory movementwhich may be imparted-to followers 314"is completely independentof the guide, vertical, recipro'catoryimovementwhich may be-imparted," simultaneouslyorotherwise, torods 22;

As. the ,capsulenap -carrying sector platesl 8 and- :their corresponding; capsulebody-carrying segments of disk" 1 tr are driven'inrotation about shaft l'l', the-plates-andtheir companion seg ments are as a unit presented; oneafter'anoth'er, tcrtli'e various operation performing stations now .to, be. described.

The first station the 'sequence'of operations isthat at which the empty, assembled capsules are'fed into' the-carriers'and decapped; This feedingandidecapping station isindicated at ii in'Fi-gs; Land-3'.

'I'heacapsule feeding and decapping' mechanism'is' of; the type disclosedin U. S; Patent-No. 1,545,77Tissued to A. W. Kath-ct al. July 14, 1925. The, feeding mechanism *of" the present invention; howevenisarranged to feed'empty, assembled capsules tomultiple rowsinstead or to buta single row of cap and body receiving apertures as' disk 16' andsector plates is continuously and progressively, advance beneath the capsule feeding station; The decapping'section'is markedly a improved-as will hereinafter appear;

Briefly; this mechanism comprises a supply hopper 42 for containing the empty, assembled capsules; Hopper 42 is connected by a horizontally'disposed chute 43 with an auxiliary supply hopper Mr from which the empty, assembledcapsules are fed-through chute 63 into hopper' 42. A vibratory feed 43w of conventional form is associated with chute 63 to maintain a constant flow ofcapsules from hopper id to hopper 12.

As is" well known, the emptycapsules have a random:arrangement inthe supply hopper (see window of hoppers! in'Fig. 1) from whence they arefed'through a series of vertically disposed guide tubes 65- (Figs. 1 and 4) to a horizontalposition onasupporting table 46; Table dfi iszprovided with a: series of longitudinally extending; spacedlribs. diiwvhichiorm open.channels therebetween' of: a width; just suificient to engage the opposite; lower edges 1 of the. caps. Duringeach cycle of themed-mechanism; escapement means indicated at 41 (Fig. 4) isarranged totpermit one capsule .onlyto beidischai'ged" from ea'clrtubewlld and fall into: horizontatlpositioniin its corresponding channel of table 46 during each downward stroke of a reciprocating head 48. The lower end of head 48 is provided with a se ries of spaced, depending tongues 43 and associated notches 52.

The elongated channels of table at and tongues 49 and notches 52 of head 48 are in alignment withibothithe concentric and radialirowsof apertures 20, 18. During each downward'stroke of l head 48, tongues 49 and notches 52 cooperate with the ribs 83 of table 46 to tip the capsules capsupand thrust the thus uprighted capsules downwardly through the channels of supporting table' lfi intotheir'corresponding cap and body receivingaperturesiii, I8. The details of construction and operation of the above described capsule feedingzmechanism is fully disclosed in the previously, referred to U. S. Patent No. 1,545,777. In this manner two radial rows of capsule receiving apertures are continuously and progressively supplied with: empty, .assembledilcapsules.

The decapping mechanism, asibefore statemis similar to that disclosedzin' the aforementioned patent. This decapping mechanism, however; is improved: to insure a more" positive deca-pping action and to eiiectmaintenance of the'resp'ective cap and body parts in separated positionsifollow; me such, decappingoperationt J ust' belowandzin talignment withia. dual, radial row 'of"'apertu1es l8,ilying just beio'svandrin alignment" with t'onguest'flfi" and: notches'rsz of head cs, there is aifixed irrzthe' machine frame a vacuum-block '53 with the upper- 'fELCBTOf 'saidblock in fitted, slidingi contact withithetlower face: of disk 13 as clearly shown .imFigsiifiandrfl. Block 5315 provided with" anz-insert 54? having :arseries of openingsriifi (Fig-.5). separatedbyrcrosszmema bers '55 z and. communicating: with?a;.chamber .5? (Fig.6) formed interiorly ofiblocksfii'. Chamber 5?? isconnectedzby a tube'58: (Figs-J, 4 and-5) with a-: suitable suction. source capable 1 ofifprotducing a sufiicient': vacuum within the chamber, openings: 55; and apertures. l8;i2.lii'to pull the bodies into".aperturesv l8? andithuscause: said bodies to be separatedfmm the capssaslthet latter are arrested in" theirdownward" movement by theirglower: edges engagingwith shoulders 21 of their. respective receiving apertures: 25;.

As disk l6 and sector plates lfisiaretcontinuously driven in? rotation; the sector 'plates', one after another, pass rbeneath feeding stationl ll. As each plate l9 approaches the'feeding station, its cam followerr28" andlrollerfifi are elevated by cam'track 32 to a. position where the lower surface of the-sector plate is raised above the upper surface of disk 15 to' provide a' space or gap'fiil therebetweenon the Ordel"Of'. of one. inch. It has been discovered'that' by providing gap 53 between the plates and. disk, as they pass through the capsule feeding and decapping station, the decapping action is rendered more positive. Also, gap prevents the capsule 'bodies'from being back-pressured into re-engagement with thecorresponding gaps from which they were just removed, followingv the removal. of the: cap and body parts from. over vacuum block53; This air gap '50, as diagrammatically. illustrated iniFig; 7, permits a steady inflowof air; at: atmospheric pressure, to enter and be maintainedwithin the interior of theparticular capsule caps and .bodies both during and followingtheseparating operation. It isbelieved 1 that: thiSlihflOWTOf 1 air into the capsule parts commences substantially-concurrently with the withdrawal' of thezbody from the; cap, or: at least, aszsooniasithe.ibody has "de and before the body arrives at its fully separated position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. '7, it being noted that in the full line position clearance exists between the body and the cap. Hitherto, it frequently happened that certain capsule bodies failed to be separated from their caps and, in other instances, it has been known to happen that even though separation has been completely effected at .the separation station, almost immediately after the separated bodies and caps advanced to a position beyond that point over block 53 where the body was removed from the cap, the reduction of air pressure interiorly of the capsule parts caused them to rejoin. Such undesirable rejoining action is attributed to the close contact usually had in prior art structures between the upper surface of the body receiving and the lower surface of the element correspondin to the cap receiving sector plate, such close contact precluding the maintenance of sufficient air pressure interiorly of the capsule parts to maintain them in separated position. In the present invention, provision of air gap 50 overcomes these difficulties.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 8, it will be observed that the lower ends of the capsule bodies come to rest upon the cross members 55, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 7, at that point where these members join the main structure of insert 54. Members 55 serve as stops for arresting the downward movement of the capsule bodies in the decapping operation. The upper faces of insert 5t and block 53, as before stated, lie flush against the lower face of disk It, a sliding clearance only being provided therebetween. Preferably the upper face of insert as is recessed to receive pads 60 (Fig. 7) of pliant material such as rubber, leather, or the like. Pads Gil provide a yielding stop for the bottoms of the capsule bodies and prevent possibility of damage thereto by force of impact incident to their being sucked into home position in apertures l8. As disk l5 and sector plates i9 continue their rotative movement, the bottoms of the capsule bodies slide over the smooth upper surfaces of members 55, insert 54 and block 53 onto the upper surface of a retainer strip 59. Strip 59 is suitably secured to the machine frame and has its upper surface lying flush with the plane of the upper surface of block 53. lines in Fig. 3 and extends for a distance equivalent to the width of one or more sector plates l9 beyond feeding station 4|.

During the capsule feeding and decapping operation just described, the extension 31 (associated with the sector plate I9 being filled with empty capsules) together with its push pins 33 will have been lowered by cam follower 34 and its roller 35 riding in cam track 36 to a position where the upper ends of the push pins lie beneath the lower surface of block 53. As a given sector l9 together with disk l6 moves from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 8, its associated push pins 38, which at this time lie in close proximity to the under surface of strip 59, serve as bottom rests for the bodies of the capsules as the latter are removed from over strip 59 toward the capsule filling station indicated generally at 62 (Fig. 3).

It will be observed with reference to Fig. 3 that between capsule feeding and decapping station M and filling station 62, i. e., in the lower left quadrant of disk [6 as viewed in this figure there is an area indicated by a bracket 63 en- The strip is indicated in dotted 6. titled inspection station. As the sector plates leave the decapping station and move toward the filling station, track 32 (Figs. 1 and 2) cams the rollers 29 and their followers 28 upwardly a distance sufficient to elevate their associated rods 22 and sector plates is from that position shown in the far left of Fig. 1 to the position shown by the two sector plates I9 immediately to the left of filling station 62 of the same figure. This removes the caps a substantial distance away from, but in exact axial alignment with the bodies. Here, the operator may readily visually inspect the condition of the caps contained in each cap carrying sector plate and the bodies contained in each corresponding segment of disk It to observe the condition of the parts before they are advanced to the filling station. The ample clearance provided between the under surfaces of plates l9 and the upper surface of disk I G at this station permits the operator readily to remove and replace defective caps and/or bodies or to correct any untoward conditions found upon inspection. The fact that the cap receiving apertures are constantly maintained in axial alignment with the body receiving apertures constitutes a valuable feature of the invention as it materially aids the operator in making a check for possible defects in parts and for replacing such defective caps and/ or bodies before the parts pass to filling station 62.

If the operator should find that a particular sector plate is or its corresponding segment of disk it should contain more defective parts than could be replaced while said plate and segment continue their advance movement toward filling station 52, the machine may readily be stopped by the operator. This is done by simply releasing a conveniently located foot button 64 (Fig. 1) which is incorporated in the machine drive in a manner to be later explained. Suffice it now to say that upon releasing button 64 the machine will stop. Following the replacement operations, upon depression of the button, sector plates l9 and disk is will immediately continue their rotative movement toward filling station 82.

Just prior to the advance of an inspected sector plate !9 and its corresponding companion segment of disk 5 5 to filling station 62, the extension 31 associated with that plate 59 and the push pins 38 of such extension are elevated by track 35, cam follower 34 and roller 55 a distance sumcient to move the capsule bodies upwardly in apertures 28 to a position where the upper edges of the bodies lie flush with the upper surface of disk It or to a position where the upper edges lie just below such surface, the exact distance of upward movement being determined by the dosage amount to be received by the capsules. Such upward movement may be varied by adjusting the position of roller 35 on follower 34, shifting stationary drum cam 33, or lengthening or shortening pins 33 in accordance with the particular requirements.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 9, sector plates l9 remain in their fully elevated or inspection station position during the movement of the sector plates through that quadrant of Fig. 3 embracing filling station 62, so that, as will be seen from Fig. 9, the sector plates will by-pass an inwardly projecting nozzle 65 of a filling-material containing hopper 66 at filling station 62. Nozzle 65 has its lower end resting with just sliding clearance against the upper surface of disk It, and in communication with hopper 66. Referring now to Fig. 1, hopper 86,

like'ihoppere 42,;isz connected. by; a horizontally? disposed tube-6rwithanauxiliary, supply hopper fiitfromlwhich :the, filling material is. fed through tubei't'lsinto. hopper. 66. A- vibratory feed 63 of conventional form-is :used to maintain a constant flows of r the: filling; material. from hopper" 68. to hopper 66; Asshownin Fig; 9, interiorly of-hopper. 66 there isg provided thesusualagitator or im-1- peller I2 mounted upon a, horizontallyz disposed shaft 13 that isarranged to'be drivenin rotationto agitatethe fillingmaterial forwardly-into discharge nozzle 65. Interiorly'of nozzlefifi there. is provided the usualscrew or-augerblades Id-af rods 22- downwardly an extent sufficient to bring,

the: lower surface-'ofa-sector late into intimate.

contact with the upper'surface. ofdislr- IG- as.

or closing station indicated generally'at IS- in Figs. 3 and 10.

Closing station .76 comprises a horizontally disposed, arcuately formed plate TI (Fig. 3) which is suitably secured upon an arm Iilfixed to the machine-framein superposed relation above the concentric and radial rows creep-receiving apertures 20. Referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen that plate II may be adjusted by screws such as. I8 and associated springs 82 to such positionthat its lower surface yieldingly rests in sliding contact with the upper, domed endsof the capsule caps. As disk I6. and aisector plate I9 advance the capsule parts beneath plate H, in timed relation, roller 35. and cam. track 35 (Fig. 2) very. graduallyelevate the associated extension. 3! and its-pins 38 from thepositionshown inFig. 9-to the position shown in Fig. whereby the filled capsule bodies willbe pressed gradually upwardly intothecaps, thusgently but firmly rejoining the filled bodies with the-caps. Following this joining. operation, the reassembled, filled-capsules are advanced. by disk IE. and sector plates Iilto the ejecting station 83 now to be described.

Ejecting stations 83 .(Figs; 3 and ll) comprises a pair ofupright walls t which are supported onthe machine frame in spaced, parallelrelation so as toembracetheradial rows of apertureslll as sector plates I9, one after another, are. ad-. vancedlto the ejecting station. Walls 84 are curved outwardly as at 85 and are joined by a bottom" or base member 86,the leading edge of which lies'fiush with and conformsto the edge contour-of the upper surface of sector plates I9. Thus, there is provided a chute for receiving and directing the assembled, filled capsules. As sector plates I9 and the corresponding segments'of diskifi'advance'fromthe closing station to the ejecting-station83}i. e., from the position'shown in Fig. 10 to the positionshown in Fig. 11,.track 36'cams r0llers"35", follower 34 and'its associated extension STI together with itspinsi38' upwardly a distance sufficientto brin'g'the upper. endsjof pins'38 slightly above the upper surfaces of their associated sectorplates. I9. Such upward movement of; pins 38 pushes .the reassembled,lfilled capsules; upwardly to that position. shown :inFig.

llwherethebottoms of. their bodies .lie slightly.

above the upper surface of base 86. Asasector.

plate I9 andits corresponding-segment of disk I6 continuein rotation,. the capsules-are engaged.

bythe leftmost curvedwall as viewed in Fig.

3 which servesto brushthe capsulesoutwardlyand into horizontal. position as .shown 1 in Fig. 11

whereupon they slide downbase portion 85 intoa suitable receptacle (not shown).

A suction head 8l (Fig. 3) may be, and preferably is, mounted in'superposed relationabove.

the upper surface of sector plates I9. A tube 88 connects head 81 with the same source of suction (not.shown)-to.which tube 58. of feeding sta-- the-upper. face of .the sector plates when they'pass. beneath the head. Head 81 serves as avacuum cleaner to remove. any, residue of powderyor foreignsubstancesfromapertures I8, 26.

The mechanism-for driving the machine is shownschematically-inFig. 12. It comprises a motor BQ-connectedbya belt and pulley connect tion 92 to drive a-horizontally disposed shaft 93 which, through. gears 94 and belt and pulley connections95, drives a horizontally disposed shaft 96. ShaftSB through bevelled gears 9? drives a vertically disposed shaft 98 which is suitably journaled'in the machine frame as shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of shaft 98 has affixed thereto a gear Iill meshing with a gear I92 which, through bevelled gears I63, drives horizontally disposed shaft f3 which drives impeller I2 in rotation. The inner end of shaft 13 has secured thereon a worm I09 meshing-with worm gears I04 secured to vertically disposed shafts-I5 which drive augers vI l inrotation as previously described.

A belt and pulley. connection I it's-between shaft 93.and apulley Illfiafiixed to a horizontally disposed shaft IIl'I. drives the shaft in rotation, said shaft being suitably mounted in hearings in the machine frame as suggested bythe illustration in Fig. 2. A worm I09 secured on shaft I91 meshes with a worm gear I I2secured-on the lower end of a vertically disposed shaft I I3. The upper end of'shaft II3.-has affixedthereon a pinion H4 meshing with ring gear 24 and in this manner the unitary. structure composed of the gear 24, rods 22, disk I6 and sector plates I9 are driven continuouslyin rotation.

A .worm I I5 secured on the inner end of shaft I07 meshes with aworm gear H6 afiixed on the lower end of a vertically disposed'shaft I II which is journaled for rotation within sleeve bearing I! as shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of shaft I I! has secured thereto a bevelled gear I I8'meshingwith a bevelled gear H9 secured on a hori zontally-disposed shaft I20 suitably journaled for rotationin the machine frame. The inner end of shaft I20 carries a crank I2I that is arranged to impart verticalv reciprocation to head 48 for feedingthe empty assembled capsules to feeding station 4| as previously described.

As clearly seen in Fig. 12, foot button Mop.- erates a normally. open switch I29 which is wired in series with one side of the line of the electrical circuit'of motor 89'. Upon depressionof foot button 64', the switch is moved to closed position, thus establishing the. circuit and starting the motor. and themachine. Upon, release of the button,.the. motor stops and the-machine discontinues its operations.-

The means for. maintaining drum cam 33 stationary willnow be I described. Referring :to Figs.

suitable upwardly projecting bearing I23.

2 and 12, it will be seen that a vertically disposed stub shaft I22 is secured to ring gear 24 in a The upper end of shaft I22 has afiixed thereto a pinion I24 meshing with internal teeth of an annular gear I25 afiixed as by bolts I26 to drum cam 33. The lower end of shaft I22 has secured thereto a pinion I21, similar to pinion I24 and similarly meshing with internal teeth of an annular gear I28 which is rigidly secured to the base I4. As ring gear 24 is driven in rotation in a counterclockwise direction to drive disk It and sector plates I9 in rotation, pinion I27 being in mesh with stationary annular gear I28 will travel orbitally around bearing IT and be rotated in a clockwise direction. This imparts clockwise rotation to pinion I24 which in rolling along the teeth of annular gear I25 will cause drum cam 33 to be held stationary at all times.

In its ordinary sense when used in connection with machinery, the term station might carry with it an implication that the work passing therethrough came temporarily to rest While the particular operations to be performed at the station were carried out. However, the term is herein employed merely as a convenient expression of a situs where particular operations are performed and is not indicative Of any delay, interruption or stoppage of the work in any manner whatsoever during the normal course of operation. A salient feature of the present machine is thorough and complete elimination of any and all types of mechanism which might give pause to the continuous and progressive advance of the capsules in a smooth, constant uninterrupted flow throughout the series of operations.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable disk carrier having a series of apertures disposed axially thereof for receiving capsule bodies, a plurality of sector plate carriers movably mounted in superposed closely spaced relation circumferentially about said disk carrier,- each of said sector plate carriers having a series of apertures aligned with their corresponding body receiving apertures for receiving capsule caps, means for driving said carriers continuously in rotation about a common axis, means for maintaining said cap and body receiving apertures constantly in alignment, and means for axially displacing said carriers one from the other during said rotative movement.

2. In a capsule filling machine; capsule separating means comprising a rotatably mounted plate having shouldered apertures for receiving capsule caps; a rotatably mounted member associated with said plate and having corresponding apertures aligned with said cap receiving apertures for receiving capsule bodies; means for discharging assembled capsules in upright position into said cap receiving apertures; suction .means operable to draw said capsules into said tive association with said suction means; and means associated with said driving means operable to alignedly and axially displace said plate and member, one from the other, a distance sufficient to cause the suction created by said suction means to be greater in said body receiving apertures than in said cap receiving apertures.

3. In a capsule filling machine; capsule separating means comprising a rotatably mounted plate having shouldered apertures for receiving capsule caps; a rotatably mounted member having corresponding apertures aligned with said cap receiving apertures for receiving capsule bodies; means for discharging assembled capsules in upright position into said cap receiving apertures; suction means operable to draw said capsules into said apertures, seat said caps on the shoulders of said cap apertures and separate the bodies from the caps and deposit said bodies into said body apertures; means for driving said plate and member in rotation into cooperative association with said suction means; and means associated with said rotational driving means operable to alignedly and axially support said plate in such spaced apart relations from said member as the plate and member come into cooperative association with said suction means, that a difierential pressure is created between said cap and body receiving apertures whereby atmospheric pressure is maintained interiorly of said capsule cap and body parts during and following said separating operation.

4. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable disk carrier having a series of apertures disposed axially thereof for receiving capsule bodies, a plurality of sector plate carriers movably mounted in superposed spaced relation circumferentially about said disk carrier, each of said sector plate carriers having a series of apertures aligned with said body receiving apertures contained within a corresponding counterpart segment of said disk carrier for receiving capsule caps, means for driving said carriers in rotation about a common axis, means for maintaining said cap and body receiving apertures constantly in alignment, means for axially displacing said carriers one from the other during said rotative movement, a container for the material with which the capsules are to be filled and having a discharge nozzle disposed in communicating relation with respect to said capsule body receiving apertures, and means for moving said sector plate cap carriers away from said body carrying disk as said cap carriers approach said nozzle whereby said cap carriers by-pass said nozzle as their corresponding counterpart segments of said disk carrier move into and out or" filling association with said nozzle.

5. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable disk having a series of capsule body-carrying apertures, an annular series of sector plates movably supported in closely spaced relation thereto and having a series of complementary capsule capcarrying apertures axially aligned with said bodycarrying apertures, means for driving said cap andbody carriers in rotation, means for maintaining said cap and body-carrying apertures in axial alignment during such rotation, means for uprightedly discharging empty capsules into the respective cap and body carrying apertures, suction means effective to separate the caps from the bodies substantially concurrently with the discharge of said assembled capsules into said apertures, said spaced relation between said disk and said sector plates being effective to assist said suction means in effecting the separation 11 offthe caps and-bodies, a hopperof ,filling materialcommunicating with a portion of the aperturedsurface of the capsule body carrying disk,

and means operable during the rotative movement of the cap and body carriers to individually, one after another, move the cap carriers away from the body carriers a distance suflicient to permit the free and easy manipulation, removal or replacement of defective capsule cap parts and to permit discharge of the filling material into-said capsule body parts.

6. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable disk capsule body carrier having series of apertures therein for receiving capsule bodies, an annular series of sector plate capsule cap carriers having a series of apertures therein in alignment with said body receiving apertures for receiving capsule caps, means mountingeach of said cap carriers on said body carrier for rotation therewith and independent guided movement toward and away'irom said body carrier withthe respective cap and body receiving apertures constantly maintained in axial alignment'means for driving said carriers continuously in rotation, a filling material hopper having a discharge nozzle in engagement with a portion of said body carrier, said nozzle occupying a plane with respect to said body carrier normallyoccupied'by the cap carriers; and meansassociated with each of said cap carrierguide means for successively and continuouslymoving said cap carriers, one after another, out of the plane-of said'nozzle and thus rendering the openings in the capsule bodies accessible thereto.

7. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable car- 'rier disk having a series of rows of apertures for receiving capsule bodies, a container of filling material having a discharge opening communicating with a plurality of said apertures, means for driving said carrier in rotation, an annular series of sector plates superposed in closely spaced relation to and circumierentially about said disk, said-sector plates each having a series of capsule cap receiving aperturesaligned with the body receivingapertures of a corresponding segment of said disk, means supporting said sector plates for simultaneous rotary movement with and axial movement'toward and away'from said disk with saidcapand body apertures being maintained in alignment, means for-dischargiidg empty capsule capsand bodies into their respective receiving apertures and disjoin-ing same, and -means cooperating with the sector-platesupporting means :operable to temporarily, axially move the-plates .lfrom their closely-spaced relation to saiddisk to a position where the'capsule capand body parts .may be readily inspected and-replaced preparatory to presentation of the open capsule bodies to the discharge opening of said fillingmaterial container.

series ofsector plates arranged in closely spaced relation to and ciroumferentially about said disk, said sector plates each having a series of capsule cap receiving apertures coaXially alignedwith the body receiving apertures of a corresponding seg- :ment of said disk, means supporting said sector plates for simultaneous rotative movement with and axial movement toward and away from, said disk withsaid cap and body apertures being maintained in alignment, means fordischarging empty dreams into their respective receiving apertures while said disk and sector plates are continuously driven in rotation, means cooperating with thesector plate supporting means operable to temporarily axially move the plates from their closely spaced relation to said disk to a position Where the capsule cap andbodyopenings may be readily inspected preparatory to presentation of the open capsule bodies to the discharge opening of said filling material container, and operator controlled means for stopping the rotation of saidcarriers at willwhen inspection indicates a delay to be necessary for making corrections.

9. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable carrier disk having a series of apertures disposed axially thereof for receiving capsule bodies, a plurality of sector Plate carriers superposed circumferentially about said disk carrier for rotation therewith, each of said sector plate carriers having a series of apertures disposed axially thereof for receiving capsule caps, means for constantly maintaining said cap and body'receiving apertures in alignment, said means being efiective even while moving said carriers relative to each other, a container of filling material having a discharge opening in registration witha portion of the apertured surface of'the body receiving carrier, means for driving said carriers continuously in rotation, and means associated With said aperture alignment maintaining means for temporarily moving the sector plate cap carriers away from the disk carrier to a position where they render the openings in the capsule bodies accessible to the discharge opening of said filling material container and by-pass with clearance said container.

10. In a capsule filling machine, capsule separating means comprising a'rotatably mounted plate having shouldered apertures for receiving capsule caps; a rotatably mounted'member associated with said plate and having corresponding apertures coaxially aligned with said cap receiving apertures 'for receiving capsule bodies, means for discharging assembled capsulesin upright position in said cap receiving apertures, seat said caps onthe shoulders of said cap apertures, separate the bodies from the cap and deposit said bodies into said body apertures; means for driving said plate and member in rotation into cooperative association with said suction means; and means associated with saidrotational driving means operable to move said plate in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said member and to support said plate in such spacedapart relation from said member as the plate and member come into cooperative association with said suction means, that a differential pressure is created between said cap and body receiving apertures whereby atmospheric pressure is maintained interiorly of said capsule cap and body parts during and following said separating operation.

11. In a capsule-filling machine, a rotatable carrier disk having a series'of apertures, each aperture being disposed at'normal-to the plane "aperture for receiving capsule .caps, means "for driving said carriers'in' rotation, means for mov- 'ingsaid Sector plate carriers away from said disk carrier in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said carriers, and means for maintainmg each pair of said complementary cap and body receiving apertures constantly in coaxial alignment during said rotation and said movement of said carriers relative to each other.

12. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable disk carrier having a series of apertures disposed at normal to the plane of said disk for receiving capsule bodies, a plurality of sector plate carriers movably mounted in superposed spaced relation circumferentially about said disk carrier each having a series of apertures coaxially aligned with a corresponding counterpart segment of said body receiving apertures for receiving capsule caps, means for driving said carriers in rotation about a common axis, means for maintaining said cap and body receiving apertures constantly in coaxial aligmnent, means for displacing said carriers one from the other in a direction at normal to the plane of said disk carrier during said rotative movement, a container for the material with which the capsules are to be filled and having a discharge orifice disposed in communicating relation with respect to said capsule body receiving apertures, and means for reciprocably moving said sector plate cap carriers away from and toward said body carrying disk carrier in a direction at normal to the plane of said disk carrier and in such timed relation as they approach and leave the location of said container that the cap carriers clear the latter as their corresponding counterpart segments of the disk carrier approach and leave the discharge orifice of said container.

13. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable carrier disk having a series of rows of apertures for receiving capsule bodies, a container of filling material having a discharge opening communicating with a plurality of said apertures, means to the axis of rotation toward and away from said disk with said cap and body apertures maintained in coaxial alignment, means for discharging empty capsule caps and bodies into their respective receiving apertures and disjoining said bodies from said caps, and means cooperating with the sector plate supporting means operable to temporarily move the plates from their closely spaced relation to said disk to a position where the capsule cap and body parts may readily be inspected and replaced preparatory to presentation of the open capsule bodies to the discharge opening of said filling material container.

14. In a capsule filling machine, a rotatable carrier disk having a series of rows of apertures for receiving capsule bodies, a container of filling material having a discharge opening communicating with a portion of said apertures, means for driving said carrier in rotation, an annular series of sector plate arranged in closely spaced relation to and circumferentially about said disk, said sector plates each having a series of capsule cap receiving apertures coaxially aligned with the body receiving apertures of a corresponding segment of said disk, means supporting said sector plates for simultaneous rotative movement with and toward and away from said disk in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation thereof with said cap and body apertures maintained in coaxial alignment, means for discharging empty assembled capsule caps and bodies disjoinedly into their respective receiving apertures while said disk and sector plates are continuously driven in rotation, means cooperating with the sector plate supporting means operable to temporarily move the plates from their closely spaced relation to said disk to a position where the capsule cap and body openings readily may be inspected preparatory to presentation of the open capsule bodies to the discharge opening of said filling material container, and operator controlled means for stopping the rotation of said carriers at will when inspection indicates a delay to be necessary for making corrections.

ALFRED W. KATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

